‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
We are all familiar with the New Year’s Eve tradition of a rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne as the bells chime in the New Year and the fireworks light up the night sky but are we as familiar with the gentleman who penned this poem set to music, Robert Burns and the night in January held in celebration of him and his works? In this article, we look at what Burns Night is, the traditions surrounding it and how you can celebrate it in style.
What Is Burns Night?
Burns Night is an evening to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns, the national poet of Scotland. 1801 saw the hosting of the first Burns Night supper and over the more than 200 years since, many new traditions have been added to pay tribute to the great man.
How Would I Host A Burns Night Supper?
No matter whether you choose a large gathering of friends and family or an intimate Burns Night for two, setting the scene will really help you to get into the spirit of the evening. A table laden with elegant candles, beautiful crockery, and glassware and possibly a little tartan (table runner or tablecloth maybe?) to really evoke a Scottish feel.
One of the traditions of the night is to pipe in the haggis but don’t worry if you aren’t an afficionado of the bagpipes! Just call upon Alexa to help you out or have a Spotify playlist ready and waiting.
Food and Drink
When considering food for your supper, haggis, neeps, and tatties are the absolute essentials for the main course – the starter and dessert are down to your personal choice, but you should keep a nod to Scotland. Maybe some delicious Scottish smoked salmon, cheese, and oatcakes? Some cock-a-leekie soup will go down a treat! Why not try this traditional recipe from Scottish Scran. Cranachan is a wonderful dessert that can be made with so many ingredients associated with Scotland – whisky, oats, Scottish raspberries, cream, and some local honey. Yum! Scottish Scran have a great recipe here. Wash it all down, of course, with a wee dram of whisky.
What Traditions Are Associated With Burns Night?
As host of your Burns Night supper, traditionally you should say a few words to welcome everyone and when all of your guests are seated, a grace is said, usually the Selkirk Grace, a well-known thanksgiving that uses the Scots language. Don’t worry about pronunciation, it will add to the fun and laughter of the evening.
After the starter is finished and the haggis is piped in, the Address to a Haggis by Robert Burns is recited. When reaching the final line, the haggis should be applauded and toasted by your guests, again, with a wee dram of whisky!
When the dessert is finished, someone should be chosen to perform the traditional tribute speech to Burns called Immortal Memory. After this, why not select another person or two to give recitals of some of Burns works? The most humorous parts of any Burns Night come next – a Toast to the Lassies and then a Reply to the Toast of the Lassies. A guide to this element of fun is given here!
After the last tinkles of laughter die away, another recital of choice can be given and then traditional dancing, fun and merriment begins. Don’t forget at the end of the evening, as host you should give a vote of thanks, thanking the guests for attending. A rousing chorus of Auld Lang Syne should see everyone off into the night after a wonderful Burns Night.
